Running Insight 6.2.2026

THE TRAIL RUNNING ISSUE

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Rachel goes

Coco!

Rachel Entrekin outruns EVERYONE in the 2026 Cocodona 250, one of trail running’s toughest tests.

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THE TRAIL ISSUE

Why Not Rachel?

Rachel Entrekin’s 2026 win in the Cocodona 250 changes the narrative in ultra trail running.

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of 13:20 per mile, particularly showcased her endurance and mental fortitude, which was fueled by the mantra “Why not you?”

This mindset helped her overcome moments of doubt and physical exhaustion. “Maybe even especially women, we tend to talk ourselves out of even trying to do things because we think that we’re not qualified or we don’t have the experience or whatever,” Entrekin shared in a post-race interview. “But why not? Why not try?”

Following this accomplishment, Entrekin

RUNNING INSIGHT ® is a registered trademark of Diversified. © 2026 all rights reserved. Running Insight is published monthly, is edited for owners and top executives at running specialty stores and available only via email except for two print issues year. The opinions by authors and contributors to Running Insight are not necessarily those of the editors or publishers. Articles appearing in Running Insight may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the publisher. Diversified Communications, 121 Free St, Portland, ME 04101; (207) 842-5500.

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also extended her existing partnership with norda, a brand known for its high-performance trail running shoes, through 2 029. T h is is esp e c ia l ly noteworthy as Entrekin wore the unreleased norda 055 while crossing the finish line.

T he brand celebrated her achievement on social m e d i a , e m p h a si z i n g t h e synergy between Entrekin’s determination and its footwear.

“We’re committed to enabling Rachel to reach her f u l l potential in our sport,” said norda co-founder and CEO Nick Martire.

Entrekin’s record-breaking performance at the Cocodona 250 is more than a personal triumph. It’s a testament to the limitless potential of human endurance and a powerful reminder that barriers can always be broken. n Sources: 1. Outdoors. com: Rachel Ent rekin Dominates 250-Mile Desert Race 2. Yahoo Sports: Rachel Entrekin Makes History in Ultramarathon 3. Norda Instagram: Norda Celebrates Rachel Entrekin 4. run single track Instagram: Instagram 5. BBC Sport: https://www.bbc.com/sport/ athletics/articles/ceqpjdgge2zo

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Cover photo and photos page 2,3: Somer Kreisman/Norda

n a feat that stunned the ultrarunning community, R a ch el E nt r ek i n, 3 4, became the first woman to win the Cocodona 250, setting a record of 56-hours, 9-minutes and 48-seconds.

This achievement surpassed her previous best by over seven hours and beat the men’s record, solidifying her legacy as one of the sport’s most prominent athletes.

Note: Entrekin was not just the women’s winner — she won the entire race!

“Men and women obviously have very different skillsets, but in an event like this it comes down to so much more than just fitness,” said Entrekin in an interview with BBC Sport. “Your attitude and your ability to combat stress is so important, they are at least as important as how physically fit you are, so I think the field is just so much more leveled at something like this.”

The Cocodona 250 is a 250-mile ultramarathon through Arizona’s rugged terrain.

It challenges runners with over 38,000 feet of elevation gain and high-altitude conditions across Black Canyon, Prescott, Jerome, Sedona and Flagstaff.

This year’s victory marks Entrekin’s third consecutive title at the event. However, this performance, with an average pace

SCENES FROM THE COCODONA 250 ULTRAMARATHON

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THE TRAIL RUNNING ISSUE

Gravel Finding a Groove

A versatile shoe that works on multiple surfaces is gaining popularity. / By Amanda Loudin

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f there’s a market that’s ripe for a gravel shoe category, Flagstaff, AZ, is probably it. With dozens of miles of paved and gravel trails running in and around the city, having an all-purpose hybrid shoe that’s suitable for multiple surfaces can be appealing. James Wilder, the manager of the Run Flagstaff shoe store, says it is, and gravel shoes are flying off his shoe wall.

“Given the terrain here, and the accessibility to urban trails, a gravel shoe makes sense,” Wilder tells Running Insight. “We have some models we can’t keep in stock.”

Created and marketed by many shoe brands – Diadora, Hoka, Salomon and popula r newcomer Mount to Coast, among them – gravel shoes aim to hit that sweet spot between a lightweight, speedy road shoe and an aggressive, heavy-hitting trail shoe. They provide versatility to runners who like an allpurpose shoe for multiple types of terrain and do it all efficiently.

The shoes themselves, then, include some of the popular lightweight energy of today’s road performance shoes, along with a bit of grip in the form of pared down lugs from a traditional trail shoe. As with any category, each brand will highlight different standout features, but all are targeting that hybrid runner who likes to mix it up, or the runner who spends a good deal of time covering pea or crushed gravel trails popular in many parts of the country.

Not everyone believes the category is a necessity, however, and some say that brands have created a marketing term. “It’s not really solving a problem,” points out Kevin Fallon, co-founder at Speedland.

“Gravel surfaces aren’t a road or a trail, so you could wear either and be just fine.”

The jury may still be out on whether gravel shoes will become a mainstay on the

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Salomon is targeting the road-to-trail transition with its gravel product line for 2026.

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Gravel Finding a Groove (continued)

With its Nucleo GR shoe, Diadora courts runners who frequently move between surfaces.

shoe wall, but in the meantime they’re selling well and worth a retailer’s look.

Anatomy of a gravel shoe Hong Kong-based Mount to Coast added its gravel shoe – the H1 – in 2024. “We had our 6

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head of product in the U.S. and took him running in Boulder and California,” says Doug Rosenberg, the U.S. country manager. “He noticed that the trails were less technical than in Europe and that, in response, there could be a need for a shoe

with less aggressive lugs that could also be more runnable on gravel or dirt surfaces.”

The company went to work designing the H1 and today it’s one of its best sellers. The differentiator is its outsole, says Rosenberg, which clocks in with

2mm lugs that essentially “disappear” on the road, giving it a high level of versatility. “When you take a standard trail shoe on the road, you’re going to feel the lugs,” he says. “With this shoe, you don’t know they’re there.”

To allow for improved grip for gravel and light-duty trail surfaces, Mount to Coast uses a proprietary material it calls “VersaGrip,” which provides the stickiness runners need to feel confident. The midsole consists of organic waste and biomass, making it not only sustainable, but lightweight and capable of energy return. “The combination of the outsole and the midsole makes it fun and bouncy,” says Rosenberg.

It a lia n-based Diadora, likewise, saw a need for a different category of running shoe, creating their Nucleo 2 GR model for runners looking for versatility. Gelindo Bordin, director of sport and marketing (a nd Italy’s f i rst Olympic marathon gold medalist), says the shoes a re pa r ticula rly popular in France.

“There’s a consumer there that looks for a shoe that can move back and forth from asphalt to gravel and sometimes even grass,” he says. “We wanted to make a shoe that allows them to move comfortably from one to the other.”

While the U.S. market hasn’t been as demanding for the model yet, it’s catching on, says Bordin.

Because of its unique qualities, Diadora sells the shoe largely in run specialty stores, with a small DTC market. “The stores can explain the product to the consumer,” he says, “and that can get lost in direct-to-consumer.”

Salomon’s Erin Cooper, North American senior marketing manager, performance + sportstyle, © 2026 Diversified

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Gravel Finding a Groove (continued)

The many iterations of gravel shoes (from top): Mount to Coast’s H1; Salomon’s Aero Glide 4 GRVL; Speedland’s RX: LDVL

says that the brand’s Aero Glide 4 GRVL model is a perfect companion for runners new to the trails.

“It provides the comfortable, lightweight silhouette and underfoot feel of their daily trainers with enough grip and traction to be confident on light trails, rolling hills, gravel paths or any other non-technical mountain terrain,” she says. The Aero Glide combines a mid-foam comparable to the brand’s road shoe and the Contragrip outsole rubber compound, matched with 3.5 mm lugs.

While Speedland hasn’t created a shoe they market as a gravel shoe, Fallon says that 8

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its RX:LDVL model features a 3.5 mm lug, which fits the bill. Its GS:BLK model has an aggressive lug profile at 6.5 mm, but users can trim them down as wanted, as well. “It’s tech we took from mountain biking and applied to shoes,” Fallon says.

Speedland’s approach to gravel – or official lack thereof – and its sales channels differ f rom most ot her br a nds.

“We have been selling about 80 percent through DTC,” says Fallon, “but we’ve been increasingly moving into stores as well. If you have a good sales staff who understands the technology, run specialty can be a good channel.”

At Run Flagstaff, consumers can find several gravel models from which to choose. “We have a pretty even split between road and trail and we position gravel on our trail wall,” Wilder says. “But gravel shoes have per for med well since the beginning.”

There’s a case to be made that gravel shoes will perform better in certain regions of the country, especially those with a high prevalence of crushed gravel or packed dirt trails. But brands that have entered the category remain bullish on its future.

“It’s only going to grow,” says Rosenberg. “On the one hand you have the hard-core runners who want a full quiver of shoe options. On the other, you’ve got the runners who want the do-it-all shoe. Gravel fits in with both.”

Cooper concurs: “The traction is real,” she says. “To have an option that works across multi-terrains enables runners to have a great go-to option for every day, if that’s what they desire.” n © 2026 Diversified

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THE TRAIL RUNNING ISSUE

Thoughts on the Trail Four well-known trail runners dish on why, where and how they run. / By Cregg Weinmann

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hose who get out and run on the trails across America know that it is a great combination of cardiovascular fitness building, visual stimulation and joie-de-vivre. To get some insight into their thoughts on trail running, we reached out to four experienced friends who combine for many trail miles and experiences. Here are their stories.

enjoyed the Salomon Ultra Glide, I race in Hokas (The Rocket), and also wear Saucony, Brooks, La Sportiva and a few others. It is terrific to see so many different trail running shoes. This wasn’t the case 10 or so years ago.

Rosenthal: The shoe that gave my most enjoyable race day was the Nike Zegama 1. But my overall favorite day to day is probably the Norda 001 or Kiprun Kipsummit Race.

What motivates you to run on the Rowbury: I used to wear the Pegasus trails?

Trail, but now that I am no longer with Do you have a favorite trail shoe?

Nancy Hobbs, Executive Director Nike I am exploring new brands, which Hobbs: I’m testing a bunch of difAmerican Trail Running Association. has actually been exciting. There’s a real ferent shoes. I rotate between about six The lure of the outdoors is ever-present explosion happening in trail footwear different brands right now. I’ve always in my mind and beckoning me to the right now. trails to experience the challenge and Ultramarathoner Mike Wardian runs the trails for the adventure and the Wardien: I run in Tevas and solitude inherent in the sport. I enjoy opportunity to be in nature ... and to get a little dirty. my current Teva favorite is the revisiting trails as well as seeking Aventrail R2T Trail Running new trail adventures. The terrain Sandal. These are my go-to shoes variability and surface changes are for running at the moment. so much more enjoyable than the road.

What’s your favorite trail to Josh Rosenthal, Publisher of run and why?

Borderlands. I am most motivated Hobbs: There is much fulfillby trails because that culture has ment in revisiting favorites in my been the one that most understands area parks and exploring new conabsurd ambition. The community nectors when they are built and that surrounds it is life-giving and open for use. I travel extensively helpful. They are fierce and direct to and a lot of that is international, keep you going toward your goal. I so wherever I go trails are part of don’t run for health or fitness. I run the adventure. I’m always lookfor the joy of losing track of time ing for new and fun places to run. doing something a younger version Inevitably there are trails to be of myself couldn’t imagine. found ... some may not be as long Shannon Rowbury, Three-time as others, or require a car ride or Olympian and 2012 Olympic public transportation to get to, but Medalist. Even though I raced 1500 the journey to get to a trail always meters on the track, I ran on soft delivers an experience. surfaces almost exclusively for my Rosenthal: Anywhere along recovery runs. It was better for my the trail of the Zion 100. It’s not joints, but more than that it settled inside the National Park, it’s just

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my nervous system. There’s nothing I love more than exploring a new trail — especially when I travel. I honestly rank destinations by the trails they offer.

Michel Wardian, Ultra Runner. I love to run trails for the adventure, the opportunity to be in nature the chance to get dirty, the risk of falling and the sense of accomplishment when reaching the top of a mountain. Trails make me feel free and bring me joy.

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outside of it, with good views of it at certain times. But even when you can’t see this stunning park itself, every square inch is beautiful and healing.

There’s just something about an expansive view of the desert that makes me wonder about what has happened there historically.

Rowbury: My very first run ever was in Golden Gate Park and I still love the little trails tucked throughout it.

My favorite sections are the Redwood Grove and the stretch where JFK Boulevard meets Ocean Beach — the views of the Pacific are hard to beat.

Wardian: My favorite local trail is the Potomac Heritage Trail — it is beautiful, but rugged and convenient. The trail packs a lot of different trail conditions, rocks, roots, mud, water and technical, so I get a lot of exposure to the conditions I am going to face around the world right in my backyard.

Do you have a favorite trail race?

Hobbs: The World Masters Mountain Running Championships is an annual favorite. There is community, camaraderie, challenge and most of all ... fun. The venue rotates every year so there is always a new opportunity to learn about new trails.

Rosenthal: Zion Ultras historically. Bryce Ultras is a close second.

Rowbury: I run trails and soft surfaces almost every day, but I’ve only done one trail race so far — and it’s left me wanting more.

Wardian: I live to run the 11

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Hardcore 100 miler — it is wild and tough and the community around the race is unparalleled.

Favorite trail story?

Hobbs: Every trail run has a story. I hope to create many more stories on the trails in the next several decades.

Rosenthal: I ran a portion of a 100 miler with a former NFL linebacker. I asked him which is harder — NFL or a desert 100. He said the desert 100. Of course we were at mile 70 in the middle of the night.

Rowbury: Maybe not my favorite, but definitely memorable: Getting completely lost on a trail in the Netherlands during a summer training camp and having to use my Garmin to navigate my way back.

Wardian: I have so many trail stories, I think the one that first came to mind is doing a race called Diagonale Des Fous on Reunion Island off the coast of Africa and there is a French guy at mile

ATRA’s Nancy Hobbs enjoys revisiting trails that have both inspired and rewarded her while challenging the limits of her endurance.

80 climbing a 2000-foot climb smoking and I can’t beat him up the mountain. I eventually did overtake him, but I love that people can

Josh Rosenthal is motivated to trail run because it is a culture that “understands absurd ambition” and is life-giving and helpful to everyone out there.

really come from all different backgrounds and still be competitive in trail races and that everyone gets to run the same course on the same day and in the same conditions.

Wildlife encounters?

Hobbs: Snakes, kangaroos, wallabies, parrots, deer, Ibex and more. Plus one mountain lion. Being alert on the trails is very good advice.

Awareness is important on the trails, not only to avoid a fall, but also to be present in the moment in terms of weather, wildlife, and human encounters.

Rosenthal: Rattlesnakes, moose. All friendly and docile moments thankfully.

Rowbury: I’ve been lucky so far — but I do remember © 2026 Diversified

Thoughts on the Trail (continued) singing out loud the entire time I ran the Powerlines Trail in South Lake Tahoe solo, because I was absolutely terrified of encountering a bear.

Wardian: I have seen all types of wildlife — mountain lions, hippos, bears, snakes, monkeys, bison, owls, wild dogs, skunks, but think the animal I was most afraid of was a porcupine or polar bear, yeah polar bear as they eat humans.

Olympian Sharon Rowbury loves exploring new trails, especially when she travels.

Anything last insights into your trail running life?

Hobbs: Trail and mountain running have given so much

to me and I hope to return as much to the sport as I have received.

Rosenthal: I’d rather DNF a race than not start. My training fell apart several times, but I still chose to toe the line knowing a DNF was inevitable. Didn’t care.

Failure in an ultra is better than the best day in the office.

Wardian: I love running trails and I would say the biggest thing to suggest to people wanting to get started is you don’t need all the fancy equipment. It is great and useful, but if you have a good pack and some shoes you should be fine. n

Insights from the author Cregg Weinmann is a writer, coach and runner and here he shares some of his thoughts on his trail running experiences.

Cregg’s running history … Running has been a pastime for many decades. I began competitive running at age 10, always towards the front of the pack. There were successes in high school and running paid for my college education. I began formal coaching in grad school, while continuing to run races when possible. I ran 53 races in one year after I turned 53.

Why he runs … The solitude of nature provides time for reflection and the simultaneous focus and free association clarifies thoughts and solutions to problems.

Favorite shoes … I have had many great trail shoes I’ve reviewed in the past. Favorites have come from ASICS, Brooks, New Balance, Solomon and Teva (they made a great trail shoe, the X1). Many of the shoes that didn’t get traction in the marketplace were actually very well done — and offered great traction in reality.

Favorite trails … My workplace was a 10-minute warmup run from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, so I regularly dragged a work colleague out once a week to get my fix of hill work.

The beauty of trail running … Wildflowers in spring is quite striking in our area, partly because as soon as the hot weather hits everything turns yellow and brown. But the early spring with green hills and California Poppies is a sight to see.

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THE TRAIL RUNNING ISSUE

Beyond Gorpcore The North Face is a prominent fashion staple, but it’s becoming a serious player on the trails, too. / By Danny Smith

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n hipster communities and college campuses across the country, The North Face’s iconic Half Dome logo is a familiar site, much as it has been for years. It’s found on fleece jackets and hoodies, T-shirts and hats, enthusiastically embraced by the Millennial and Gen Z set, in particular.

While The North Face holds a defined, unapologetic high-performance ethos and a 60-year history rooted in producing durable outdoor gear, the Denver-based brand’s urban, suburban and on-campus ubiquity have made it a poster child for the gorpcore

movement — the fashion trend of sporting high-end outdoors gear in decidedly nonoutdoorsy environments.

But beware of thinking The North Face, which boasts global sales approaching $4 billion, is little more than fleece jackets and hoodies spotted at a house party or a kitschy corner tavern serving cans of Schlitz. The North Face continues to emerge a serious player in trail running.

Led by its three-model Vectiv collection of performance trail running shoes and the versatile, two-shoe Altamesa lineup, The North Face is earning rave reviews,

loyal fans and increasing attention in run specialty shops and outdoors stores.

‘A watershed moment’ It’s true, The North Face isn’t new to the trail running footwear game. In fact, the company launched its first trail running shoe – the Ultra 100 – way back in 2000.

But over the subsequent two decades, the brand struggled to gain momentum in the footwear category. Frequent starts and stops hampered progress despite the company boasting an impressive elite athlete roster headlined by Dean Karnazes.

Over the last five years, The North Face has gained important momentum in trail running thanks to a thoughtfully developed lineup of footwear options.

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© 2026 Diversified

The North Face has plenty of street cred and remains a darling of the gorpcore movement, a reality that has helped propel its growth in trail running.

“We’re about ‘never stop exploring,’ but if you don’t have a solid pair of shoes, you’re not going to explore very far,” The North Face senior director of global footwear product and merchandising Marion Minary tells Running Insight.

Supported by insights from its athlete roster and sales of those aforementioned fleece jackets and other gorpcore favorites, The North Face turned a finer eye on trail running footwear as 2020 approached. T he company grounded its efforts in credibility, authenticity and performance first and released the opening trio of shoes in its Vectiv series in early 2021 — the max-cushioned Vectiv Infinite, the lighter, more efficient Vectiv Enduris and the speedy Flight Vectiv, the first off-road model 15

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employing a carbon fiber plate.

The North Face senior global product manager of performance footwear Brett Rivers calls the Vectiv debut “a watershed moment” for the brand in footwear.

“We needed to have footwear relevant for our athletes, for our consumers and product our dealers were excited to put on the feet of their customers,” says Rivers, who founded the San Francisco Running Company in 2012 before moving over to the brand side and joining The North Face in 2019.

Though The Nor th Face trail running footwear had struggled to resonate in run shops, the brand did have a reliable presence in the channel through its seasonal accessories and apparel, including

the ballyhooed Better Than Naked line. The brand leveraged those relationships as a starting place to earn space on shoe walls across the U.S., initiating a multi-year grind that has taken The North Face from trail running footwear outcast to ascendant player.

Half dome, full speed The Vectiv launch provided valuable momentum for The North Face, stirring interest for the brand’s footwear in places where little or, quite often, none previously existed. Slowly, steadily, the buzz began to rise, while leadership remained committed to trail running footwear in a manner that hadn’t previously existed.

In Spring 2023, The North Face debuted the Sum m it

Vectiv Pro, a responsive, wellcushioned racer. The following spring, the brand introduced the more versatile Altamesa 300 and Altamesa 500. More recently, The North Face rounded out its trail running range with its Offtrail line — a collection born of FKTs and unconventional running adventures. In the meantime, the Vectiv lineup has added new generations while the Altamesa lineup launched version twos earlier this year.

Legacy media outlets like Runner’s World and oft-frequented review sites such as Believe in the Run have showered models like the Altamesa 500, Vectiv Enduris and Vectiv Sky with praise.

“In our opinion, there have been very few misses amidst an ever-growing family of shoes,” © 2026 Diversified

Beyond Gorpcore (continued) Believe in the Run wrote of The North Face in its preview of 2026 trail footwear.

Drew Flowers, general manager at Trailhead Running Supply in Flower Mound, TX, has carried The North Face since the store’s December 2022 opening and credits the brand for gathering feedback on their footwear and, more importantly, implementing it. The Vectiv Enduris 3, for instance, was a shop favorite, but there was rather universal consensus among Trailhead staff that adding Dream Foam and a more aggressive lug pattern would make it more versatile across different terrain.

“Sure enough, that’s exactly what they did with the Vectiv Enduris 4,” Flowers says, adding similar improvements took place with the Altamesa 500’s recent update.

Indeed, The North Face continues capturing the attention of run specialty retailers.

In 2022, fewer than half of run specialty doors already carrying The North Face apparel also brought in footwea r, according to Rivers. Today, that number is approaching 90 percent. Existing accounts, meanwhile, have upped their orders, bringing more styles and colorways into their inventory.

The North Face is also adding new doors and re-engaging with lapsed accounts specifically off the strength of its footwear.

“That was never the case before,” Rivers says.

Earning every mile Both Minary and Rivers admit The North Face’s climb in the trail running footwear category remains a work in progress. The brand must continue building product retailers

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Runners and retailers alike are discovering The North Face has legitimate trail running chops, including footwear options capable of rivaling other top brands.

want to share with their consumers and must continue earning trust with retailers. To the latter point, The North Face is investing in demo runs at retail shops, training runs and race sponsorships at heralded events like the Miwok 100K Trail Race in northern California as well as adventures like Race to the Summit in southern Vermont.

“Now, it’s about being consistent,” Minary says.

Skip Brand, who opened Healdsburg Running Company in northern California wine country in 2014, confesses an “affinity for” The North Face.

While the brand’s apparel did well in his trail-centric shop, footwear was “up and down.”

Since the 2021 introduction of Vectiv, however, Brand says The North Face has been far more intentional about developing

footwear for top athletes and then bringing that to the masses.

He credits The North Face for listening to feedback from retailers and runners, developing a wide spectrum of trail footwear and connecting with the trail running community through event sponsorship and events.

“It’s not crazy, new stuff, but it’s working,” Brand says.

While Trailhead’s Flowers hopes The North Face opens up its toe box a little more and pursues some limited-edition colorways, he’s a “huge fan” of the brand’s momentum with footwear.

“If our customers and staff are putting their bodies through the demands of trail and ultra racing, we want to carry the gear that’s truly built for that environment,” Flowers says. “The

North Face definitely checks that box.”

The North Face has new generations of the Vectiv and Altamesa percolating, while a new model built to push the limits of mountain running, the Offtrail Ultra, will debut this fall. Dealer bookings for that new style doubled company expectations, Rivers reports.

In the past, The North Face struggled to maintain a steady lineup of thoughtful, fine-tuned footwear updates. But it’s a new day at The North Face, Rivers assures. He says the brand will continue “pushing on the performance side” and providing trail runners a “full quiver of footwear styles.”

“We have an opportunity to win as we’re able to get our shoes on the feet of more consumers,” Rivers says. n

© 2026 Diversified

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THE TRAIL RUNNING ISSUE

Closing the Trail Gap New RIDC report focuses on how to make trail running more inclusive and attainable. / By Carly Russo

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rail running has grown in reach, visibility and cultural momentum. However, that growth has not changed who feels welcome on the trails. For many Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) runners, there remains a deeper question of whether those spaces feel safe, familiar and built with them in mind.

That is why the Running Industry Diversity Coalition’s (RIDC) Freedom to Run: Back Outside initiative, an intro to trail running, was created after a 2023 examination of underrepresented experience in trail running in partnership with Bentley University and Blaze Partners. The findings indicated that a participation gap remains among BIPOC runners, shaping who shows up on the trails and who sees themselves reflected in the sport’s culture and future.

F r e e d o m t o Ru n : Ba c k Outside was created to respond with action. With support from Superfeet and partners such as Altra, GU, Smartwool and Hydrapak, the program launched as a case study to test which kinds of support help new runners enter trail running and remain engaged.

The case study identified common obstacles for BIPOC individuals, such as gear, cost, safety concerns, lack of knowledge about trails, lack of a running community, intimidation and simply not seeing trail running as something meant for them.

The response to the study was immediate. Within 10 days of 18

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announcing the program on social media, nearly 275 people applied. Seventy-five percent of applicants were new to trail running.

The cohort included runners of different ages, backgrounds, and life experiences.

Selecting the team From that group, 14 runners across the U.S., all new to trail running, were selected for a six-month experience that included coaching, gear, community support,

nutrition guidance and entry in their first trail race.

One participant, a plus-size runner, had completed 10 races, including three half marathons. Another, a mother and educator, turned to running as a way to heal after the loss of her daughter. A caregiver joined to learn about trail running and to connect with other BIPOC runners. Someone passionate about trails also organizes queer BIPOC hiking groups. Another participant is dedicated to reshaping the narrative around visibility in the sport.

One participant said, “I always thought of trail running as [a] form of movement only elite athletes engage in.

I’ve only seen white people trail run and very visibly toned bodies on the trails leaping over obstacles.”

Another shared, “When I think of a trail runner, the first person I envision is not a Black woman. In my mind, I picture a young white woman like you see on team USA’s trail running team.”

Others pointed to fear and unfamiliarity. One participant said, “I think of running on uneven ground, which is intimidating considering how one wrong step can cause a lot of damage.”

Another put it more simply, “I think of ultra running events, or falling.”

These perceptions shape whether someone signs up, asks questions, buys gear,

© 2026 Diversified

joins a group or decides the sport is not for them before they even begin. Together, they made clear that there is no single “new trail runner” story, although there are common needs.

Wanted: A support system The strongest finding from Freedom to Run: Back Outside is that beginner trail runners need support systems they can trust. That includes reliable gear, a sense of safety, authentic community and practical education to navigate outdoor spaces with confidence.

Without that support, trail running can feel exclusive. One participant captured the cultural weight of that exclusion by saying, “In a family with limited resources (and especially parents who escaped their country by navigating rocky terrain and had no wish to experience it again), it was simply noted: the mountains were not meant for people like us in America.”

Trail running can carry histories of class, race, migration, trauma and exclusion. It also shows why belonging cannot be treated as an afterthought.

The results went beyond finishing a first race. According to the case study, graduates continued trail running, launched trail groups, pursued careers in the running industry, rediscovered themselves through grief and achieved wellness goals that once felt out of reach.

Motivated by meaning Participants were also motivated by the deeper meaning they attached to trail running.

One shared, “When I reflect more on trail runners, I envision feelings of freedom and 19

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connection. The feeling of being able to connect with nature through running. This is something I believe everyone should be able to do regardless of how they identify.”

The goal was never only to add more names to a start list. It was to help more people experience the freedom, connection and joy that trails can offer when the right conditions exist.

What makes Freedom to Run: Back Outside especially significant is that it did not stop at observation. It turned insights into tools that others can use.

Based on the program’s findings, the organization developed actionable steps for brands, retailers, race events and running clubs.

Many organizations now say they want to diversify trail running. Freedom to Run: Back Outside offers a clearer answer for brands that don’t know what to do next. Start with the barriers runners actually name, then build support around them in visible, measurable ways.

Action steps such as reviewing policies and programming to address hidden barriers, rethinking who appears in marketing and brand storytelling, making retail spaces more welcoming to first-time trail runners, offering education, mentorship and entry-level trail experiences and committing to at least one measurable change that expands access and belonging.

Fr e e dom t o Ru n: Ba ck Outside shows that the participation gap in trail running stems from choices, habits, and systems that can be changed. When runners receive gear, guidance and genuine community, the sport becomes more possible and more personal. n

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THE TRAIL RUNNING ISSUE

Getting a Grip Inside Vibram’s rise from alpine tragedy to ‘stamp of approval’ in the trail footwear category. / By Danny Smith

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s the Mizuno USA team looked days, phoned a friend. geometries on the diverse surfaces found to revitalize its trail running in modern trail,” Mizuno USA product “Ultimately, partnering with Vibram footwear category two years and their vast library of materials allowed manager Drew Magaha explains. ago, a desire that would quickly us to find rubber compounds that worked Mizuno’s Neo Accera, released in March, morph into a key global initiative for the the best in conjunction with our foams and features Vibram’s Megagrip outsole, a Japanese company, the Mizuno’s Neo Accera is among the ever-growing number of trail running models using a Vibram outsole – in this case, the company’s brand devoted itself to Megagrip outsole product. innovation.

Leadership understood constructing a pinnacle trail product, particularly in an increasingly competitive space, wouldn’t be easy, yet Mizuno marched ahead — determined, open-minded and solutions-focused.

As the company’s running footwear developers studied the mechanics of trail running and the various surfaces athletes encounter – from gravel and loam to mountain rock – it became clear some of the company’s existing technologies, namely the nitrogeninfused Enerzy NXT midsole foam and the Smooth Speed Assist sole structure found in its Neo Vista and Neo Zen road shoes, represented winning elements.

But with the outsole, an essential component of any winning trail shoe, Mizuno didn’t have such clear answers.

So, Mizuno, like so many other r unning footwear players these 20

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© 2026 Diversified

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Getting a Grip (continued)

h igh-per for ma nce, gr ippy rubber compound used on other popular trail runners such as the Hoka Speedgoat and Saucony Peregrine.

“It’s almost become a stamp of approval in the trail running space,” Magaha says of the yellow Vibram octagon that appears on many trail running models.

Getting a grip To be certain, Vibram is one of trail running’s most valuable partners, a visible player in trail running’s continued growth and popularity on the world’s stage.

But it wasn’t always that way.

Established in 1937 following 22

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Topo Athletic’s Terraventure 5 uses Vibram’s Megagrip outsole to provide runners “superior traction on all surfaces.” Every current Topo trail running model uses a Vibram outsole.

a fatal mountain expedition in the Italian Alps, Vibram founder Vitale Bramani worked to create rubber outsoles with durable, grippy traction, particularly on

uneven, wet terrain. Across the 20th century, Vibram gained a particular foothold in the hiking and mountaineering worlds while only lightly dabbling

in other footwear categories, including trail running.

“Trail running was an opportunity, but we never made a strong move into it,” says Fabrizio Gamberini, Vibram’s global chief brand officer and president.

(Notably, of course, Vibram moved into running footwear earlier this century with its own FiveFingers lineup. The barefoot-inspired collection stirred curiosity and generated brand awareness, but also ignited a well-publicized lawsuit.)

With the rise of trail running over the last decade, however, Vibram’s work with performance running footwear © 2026 Diversified

companies has accelerated and Vibram has emerged a rather ubiquitous name in the trail running world as a premium ingredient in a premium market.

Some of the most established trail shoe franchises on the market – the New Balance Hierro, the Merrell Agility Peak and the Topo Ultraventure among them – use Vibram outsoles, as do some of the flashiest newer models like the Brooks Cascadia El ite, Mount to Coast M1, Norda 005 and the Arc’teryx Sylan 2.

“If you want quality trail shoes, I think Vibram is an essential part of that story,” says Topo Athletics founder Tony Post, whose entire trail running catalog features Vibram outsoles.

‘Obsessing’ over outsoles Vibram national sales director Jordan Carey says Vibram has spent nine decades “obsessing” over outsole solutions.

That obsession has sparked a range of innovations, such as the race-day oriented Megagrip Elite compound, the reducedweight Litebase technology and Traction Lug, which enhances grip and traction through lug shape.

“Customers and consumers come to Vibram because they know what we can provide them,” Gamberini says. “We give them innovation they don’t have.”

According to Gamberini, Hoka’s use of a Vibram outsole on its original Speedgoat – a model designed in tandem with ultrarunning legend Karl Meltzer – in 2015 “opened the floodgates” for additional partnerships. Those floodgates then widened throughout subsequent 23

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years and especially in 2023 when Nike teamed with Vibram to produce the outsole for the Ultrafly Trail. As more running footwear brands teamed with Vibram, the global halo around the company brightened.

Mizuno’s Magaha says partnering with Vibram means collaborating on the details, allowing both brands to put resources together to create dynamic products. Mizuno, like others, doesn’t shy away from putting the Vibram name and logo on its trail footwear because it recognizes the confidence the little yellow Octagon generates.

“Vibram brings a heritage of performance material innovation that has built a lot of trust with athletes,” Magaha says.

“They seem to be there at the biggest moments and have become a name synonymous with performance.”

Pacing the future While Topo’s first trail shoe model, the MT, did not feature a Vibram outsole – a byproduct of timing more than anything, Post says – the Massachusettsbased brand has made getting Vibram outsoles on Topo trail footwear a priority throughout the last decade. Post, who served an 11-year tenure as president and CEO of Vibram USA before launching Topo in 2012, lauds Vibram’s efficiency, execution, quality and consistency, which make him proud to put the Vibram logo on Topo footwear.

“We pay a premium for that ingredient, but it sends a powerful message to consumers,” Post says.

Even so, Vibram leadership sees even more opportunity to

Whether it’s reducing weight or improving grip, Vibram continues to work internally and with its footwear partners to develop new outsole compounds and solutions.

push marketplace awareness and strengthen that message for itself and its par tners.

According to Gamberini, about 70 percent of consumers remain unfamiliar with Vibram, even though the company produces more than 40 million soles every year.

“A big company focus right now is on educating retailers and consumers as much as we can,” says Gamberini, calling

Vibram “an ingredient brand with purpose.”

As for its work with footwear brands, Vibram continues pushing the pace. In the coming months, Vibram will introduce a new compound with Altra designed to “bridge” into the gravel/road category.

“We need to keep believing in innovation because we want to continue serving athletes in the right way,” Gamberini says. n © 2026 Diversified

THE TRAIL RUNNING ISSUE

A Trail Run Entry Point Janji grants to grassroots organizations introduce trails to runners. / By Mike Burnstein, Co-founder and CEO, Janji

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rail running has always been aspirational. For some people, that aspiration looks like Western States, Cocodona or UTMB, a race that feels almost impossible until you decide to try.

Those events matter because they expand our understanding of what humans are capable of.

They create stories that travel well beyond the core trail community and inspire people to imagine themselves differently.

Watching Rachel Entrekin win Cocodona outright earlier this year and set a course record wasn’t just impressive, it reminded people that this sport still has room to surprise us.

Those kinds of efforts remind us why we make what we make — gear for the longest distances. Ultradistance running forces clarity. You learn quickly what matters over 10, 20 or 30 hours outside. Gear either disappears with you or it becomes the thing you can’t stop thinking about.

The challenges are real — relentless heat, inclement weather, technical terrain, chafing, nutrition and fatigue. Designing for those realities has shaped a huge part of how we think about our products, but ultras also represent something bigger than performance.

Finding the way onto trails But what draws many people to trail running isn’t necessarily racing at all. It’s the feeling of moving through landscapes under your own power. It’s curiosity, exploration and community — along with the lessons from being out there longer than 24

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you expected. Most trail runners start with a short local loop, a friend inviting them out or a run that feels different or farther than what they’re used to on the road.

That entry point into trail running is important to remember now because the sport is growing quickly, even as the path into it isn’t always obvious. According to insights shared during a panel discussion at The Running Event in San Antonio last December, trail running is growing at roughly eight percent annually, significantly faster than the broader running market.

The same discussion noted that much of that growth is being driven by casual participants and road runners crossing over to trails in search of a different experience and community.

A lot of access still depends on geography, confidence or knowing someone who can help you get started. Information

around gear, safety, routes and trail culture is often passed down informally. While trail running has become more visible, many people still don’t see themselves reflected in the spaces where the sport exists.

W hat that creates is a participation funnel that narrows faster than it should. At the top end, the sport looks bigger than ever. Races sell out, records are broken and participation continues to rise.

Social feeds are filled with massive efforts in beautiful places. UltraSignup participation data shows continued growth in trail race participation following the pandemic surge in outdoor recreation.

But beneath that momentum are a lot of people who are curious about trails and never quite make it onto them.

That’s one of the biggest opportunities and responsibilities for brands in this space. The future of trail running won’t only come from serving the runner training for their next hundred miler. It will come from making the sport feel approachable enough for someone showing up for their very first trail run.

Expanding trail representation That shift is already happening at the community level. You see it in local run crews introducing people to dirt for the first time. You see it in organizations creating mentorship, stewardship and representation where it didn’t exist before. You see it in the growing understanding that trail running is as much about belonging as it is about performance.

© 2026 Diversified

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Entry Point (continued)

That thinking is what led us to launch Janji Grants, an opportunity to more closely align giving with the heart of our brand. The idea behind the program was simple: the people building access and community in trail running are doing some of the most important work in the sport and they deserve real support.

Through Janji Grants, we award a $10,000 grant each month to organizations helping create more pathways into trail running, whether through mentorship, advocacy, education or community-building.

Groups such as Tierra Libre Runners, Native Women Run and Women In Ultrarunning are helping expand representation, visibility and support in trail and ultra spaces through mentorship and communitybuilding. Friendship Miles is creating spaces where runners of all backgrounds and abilities can

build connection, belonging and community through movement.

Each of these organizations approaches the sport differently, but all of them are helping answer the same question: how do we make someone feel welcome enough to begin? A challenge we face as an industry, a responsibility.

The next generation of trail runners will not all arrive through competition. Many will come through community, friendship, a run club, a local event or a group that made trails feel less intimidating and more accessible.

In fact, recent Strava trend data points to the growing importance of community in

endurance sports. Younger athletes increasingly view fitness as a social activity, with 37 percent of surveyed users saying run clubs are a good place to meet people, while Gen Z users were 39 percent more likely than Gen X to say they use fitness as a way to meet people overall.

The reality is, every ultrarunner starts there. Nobody begins with a hundred miler.

They begin with uncertainty and borrowed gear and someone explaining what to pack, where to go or how to feel comfortable being out there.

The future of trail running won’t be defined only by the sport’s biggest races or most elite performances, as inspiring as those moments are. It will also be shaped by how many people feel like there’s a place for them on the trail long before they ever think about a finish line. n

2026 Janji Grants Recipients Janji Grants, the new giveback initiative designed to support grassroots organizations working to make running more inclusive, accessible and community-driven, recently awarded its first round of grants as part of a program that will award $10,000 each month to organizations that are building community, reducing barriers to participation or providing education and mentorship to welcome new runners into the sport.

The inaugural cohort of 2026 grant recipients reflects Janji’s three core pillars: education, community and access. Among the first recipients: • Tierra Libre Run, an organization advancing BIPOC representation in trail and ultra-distance running through athlete funding, mentorship and community-based programming.

• Runners for Public Lands, which mobilizes runners to protect public lands while expanding equitable access to outdoor spaces through stewardship, advocacy and education initiatives.

• Native Women Run, a community-centered organization uplifting Indigenous women through running, creating space for healing, visibility and cultural connection while increasing access to the sport.

Applications for future grants remain ongoing, with new recipients selected monthly and announced quarterly. For more information on Janji Grants, visit janji.com.

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© 2026 Diversified

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THE TRAIL RUNNING ISSUE

Teva’s Trail DNA Teva is targeting trail runners with multiple offerings and having fun doing it. / By Amanda Loudin

Traditionally known for its sandals, Teva has history in trail running and a pivot in 2024 brought the brand all-in with an impressive shoe line and high-profile athletes.

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eva might seem like the new kid on the trail running block, but the brand is more of an OG. Founded in 1984 by river guide Mark Thatcher following time in the Grand Canyon, Thatcher recognized the need for something of a hybrid outdoor shoe and created the brand’s iconic adventure sandals.

But it didn’t take long before Teva began exploring the idea of a running sandal — and in 1993 it launched one.

The evolution from sandal to trail running shoe took a few years, but when Teva did 28

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enter the space with the Teva X1 Racer, it was to accolades. By 2005, the X1 Pro Racer represented one of the lightest trail shoes on the market and to further its investment in the trail running space Teva became sponsor of the U.S. Mountain Running team in 2002. It then added its name to the annual Teva Mountain Games, as well.

Despite the early successes in trail running, the Teva leadership team decided to pivot around 2012, putting more emphasis on lifestyle products. There it remained until 2024 — now, Teva is all in with trail

running, offering a full lineup of products and using high-profile athletes to tell its story.

Meeting runners where they are In keeping with its sandal heritage, Teva created a lineup that includes not just traditional trail running shoes, but running sandals as well. The sandal-totrail shoe pipeline remains clear in all its designs and runners can choose between the two depending on preference.

“We are excited to offer several levels

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of running product across our line in 2026, with more to come in 2027,” says Taylor Zanelotti, director of Americas.

This feeds into the brand’s approach to selling, as well.

“As Teva has built out a trail line architecture that includes more run product, we have been able to complement a robust outdoor specialty distribution with more engagement in the run specialty world,” says Zanelotti.

“Overall, we partner with larger national wholesale accounts for their reach and presence across the country, whereas our specialty partners offer high-touch service, credibility, local knowledge and amazing community involvement.”

Current models include the Aventrail sandal and shoe, something of the workhorse and all-around adventure/trail running sandal; the Aventrail R2T, which can easily move between gravel trails and offroad trails; and the Hurricane Trailsetter, which fits a more traditional trail running model.

The Bureau of Adventure At the heart of Teva’s trail running initiative is its aptlynamed Bureau of Adventure, a collective of outdoor athletes who push bou nd a r ies, a s well as weigh in on product development. Here, “all the p ro duct s a r e at h let e a nd adventure led,” explains Niklas Benzer, senior product manager, innovation.

Leading this charge are long-time barrier-breaking trail runner Mike Wardian and mountain endurance athlete Erin Ton. For decades, Wardian has been a (literal) trailblazer, taking on adventures that include seven marathons on seven continents 29

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The Trailpeak debuts this fall with speed and agility in mind for mountain running and scarmbling.

in seven days and pushing through the Appalachian Trail in just 60 days.

Ton, on the other hand, is just 28 but has already racked up more than 100 fastest-knownti mes a l l over t he world.

Together, they spread the Teva message and love all over social media and at various events.

“The first year we partnered with Mike in 2024, we created a new shoe together,” says Benzer.

“Mike was getting ready for his AT run and he gave a lot of input and product testing to develop the sandal he used.”

That project led to the Aventrail sandal, which remains a popular choice for the customer base.

Ton also collaborated with Teva to create a trail runner that will debut in the fall. The new Trailpeak will be built with speed and agility in mind.

“Erin does a lot of mountain running and scrambling, so this shoe takes that into account,” says Benzer. “She likes to feel the ground and the Trailpeak delivers that.”

The resulting shoe features A-TPU foam, which is lighter and delivers energy return like many of today’s fast road shoes.

It also offers a lower (6 mm) heelto-toe offset and stack height than many of the trail shoes on the market today and comes in at just eight ounces. The upper is customizable and allows for rapid water drainage, too.

“We have si x poi nts of adjustability on the upper so that you can find a secure fit,” says Benzer.

When the brand officially rolls out the Trailpeak in September, it will do so with a select set of 10 wholesalers to start. “Our

specialty par tners will be able to tell the shoe’s stories and educate their customers,” Benzer explains. “After that launch, we’ll roll it out across the country.”

Teva is making its presence known at high-profile events, too. The brand represented at The Running Event last December, where it debuted the Trailpeak. It also hosted run demo events for Tuckfest, in conjunction with the National Whitewater Center and Great Outdoor Provision Company.

Zanelotti says this marries up the brand’s DNA of water with trail and meets the customer where they are today, craving in-person events.

Being the comeback kid can be a tough role to play, but in the trail running space, Teva shows it knows just what it’s doing. n © 2026 Diversified

THE TRAIL RUNNING ISSUE

A Plan for the Outdoors Protecting America’s public lands is focus of Outdoor Alliance’s annual report.

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n a year marked by mounting threats to America’s public lands, Outdoor Alliance is making a clear case for what organized outdoor advocacy can achieve. Its 2025 Annual Report is both a recap of a high-stakes year and a roadmap for what comes next. Together with the group’s 2026–2028 strategic plan, the report shows an organization moving from reaction to long-term movement building.

Public lands policy can feel distant to the people who hike, climb, paddle, ski, bike and surf, yet in 2025 Outdoor Alliance helped turn that passion into action at scale by sending 1.3 million messages to lawmakers, holding 323 meetings with elected officials, and defending 3.3 million acres of public land from sell-off proposals.

“Over the last year, we saw growing bipartisan support for public lands and waters. At the same time, the outdoors is facing the greatest threats of a generation — unceasing efforts to eliminate regulations 30

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and protections, massive cuts to staff and resources for land management agencies and efforts to sell off millions of acres of public lands,” says Adam Cramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance. “Our new strategic plan ensures the outdoor community continues to have a strong voice in the decisions shaping public lands. The path ahead may be challenging, but one thing is clear: when outdoor enthusiasts speak up, decision makers listen.”

A mission to unite Outdoor Alliance’s mission is to unite the voices of outdoor enthusiasts to protect the human-powered outdoor recreation experience and conserve public lands. In 2025, that mission was tested.

The most urgent fight centered on efforts to sell public lands. According to the annual report, decision-makers floated multiple proposals that culminated in a plan to sell up to 3.3 million acres of public land. Outdoor

Alliance responded by producing maps that made the issue tangible for people who use these places, helping the public see what was at stake in their own backyards and favorite recreation areas.

They also helped write letters focused solely on land-sale threats. Across all major campaigns in 2025, the outdoor community sent 1.3 million messages to lawmakers to keep public lands public, defend agency staffing and protect National Forests and Bureau of Land Management lands.

The annual report notes that lawmakers reversed course on land-sale proposals, citing constituent outreach and the outdoor community as a key turning point.

The 2025 story was about defense, implementation, coalition work and policy follow-through. One bright spot was the EXPLORE Act, which passed the House and Senate unanimously in 2024 and was signed into law early in 2025. The act marked a bipartisan achievement in outdoor

© 2026 Diversified

Public lands policy can feel distant to the people who hike, climb, paddle, ski, bike and surf, yet in 2025 Outdoor Alliance helped turn that passion into action at scale by sending 1.3 million messages to lawmakers, holding 323 meetings with elected officials and defending 3.3 million acres of public land from sell-off proposals. recreation policy. In the months that followed, Outdoor Alliance and its coalition partners worked with federal agencies to help shape implementation.

That effort spread across the coalition. Access Fund pushed for the implementation of the Protecting America’s Rock Climbing Act. IMBA worked to implement the Biking on Long Distance Trails Act. Winter Wildlands Alliance defended the travel management rule. The Mountaineers advised the Forest Service on the Simplifying Outdoor Access to Recreation Act to help expand access to outdoor education opportunities.

At the same time, Outdoor Alliance fought to defend the Roadless Rule, which protects more than 58 million acres of National Forests. In 2025, the USDA proposed rescinding that rule, putting at risk backcountry areas that include more than 25,000 miles of trails, thousands of climbing routes, hundreds of miles of whitewater and more than 10,000 miles of mountain biking terrain. Outdoor Alliance generated more than 150,000 31

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letters in response.

The group also rallied around staffing cuts at public land agencies. The report says the Forest Service, Park Service and Bureau of Land Management lost upwards of 25 percent of their staff over the course of the year. These were not abstract losses. They affected recreation management, permitting, wildfire prevention, and on-theground stewardship. Outdoor Alliance organized 120 groups to co-sign a letter to lawmakers and generated 144,000 letters calling for staffing support.

Meanwhile, a proposed rollback of the Public Lands Rule for BLM lands drew another 44,000 letters, as Outdoor Alliance worked to defend recreation and conservation values on those landscapes.

Focusing on the big picture What makes the annual report stand out is its focus on infrastructure for advocacy, not just issue-by-issue fights.

Outdoor Alliance trained 19 new leaders in 2025, bringing its fully trained advocate network to 39 people. These community leaders have strong constituent voices who can meet directly with lawmakers and move policy through trusted local relationships. The group also held a fly-in to Washington, D.C., resulting in 77 meetings with lawmakers, bringing its total to 323 meetings in 2025.

The goal is to make advocacy accessible, engaging and effective for a much bigger share of the outdoor public. Millions of Americans recreate outdoors every year, but only a small fraction engage in policy. Outdoor Alliance is trying to close that gap.

Outdoor Alliance says its

next three years will focus on four priorities: building a durable, bipartisan movement for conservation and recreation, growing advocacy power within the outdoor recreation community, advancing policies that protect human-powered outdoor recreation experiences and strengthening Outdoor Alliance as a sustainable organization capable of meeting long-term challenges.

A bipartisan future That framework ref lects the current political reality.

Public lands protections now face repeated pressure from deregulation, staffing cuts and development interests. The organization’s answer is not a single campaign. It is a stronger, broader advocacy movement that can respond across election cycles and policy swings.

The annual report also makes clear that sustaining that work requires support beyond activists and lawmakers. In one donor testimonial, Kaylyn Fern of the Whiteman Family Foundation s a i d, “At t h e W h it e m a n Family Foundation, we prioritize organizations that lead with capacity-building. When Outdoor Alliance approached us about creating the Grasstops Collective, we were excited to support a national effort to protect public lands. We’ve had the privilege of watching the program evolve—and deliver real wins, including the passage of the EXPLORE Act.” Kai Kinder, an Outdoor Alliance donor wrote: “I believe that if you truly love the outdoors, you have an obligation to support them. While that support can take many different forms, for me, being a contributing

“The outdoors is facing the greatest threats of a generation — unceasing efforts to eliminate regulations and protections, massive cuts to staff and resources for land management agencies and efforts to sell off millions of acres of public lands.”

— Adam Cramer, CEO, Outdoor Alliance member of Outdoor Alliance is an especially impactful one.

Knowing how passionate their team of experts is about the conservation of public lands and the protection of recreational opportunities as well as their ability to effectively advocate for those aims is a rare solace these days and one that I am more than happy to support.”

And finally, Annie Nyborg of Peak Design added: “Outdoor Alliance is a strategic partner of Peak Design — providing power in numbers in advocating for our public lands and the government affairs expertise to maximize our impact as a company. The protection of our public lands is of great recreational, economic, and environmental importance and Outdoor Alliance helps ensure that Peak Design’s voice is heard on the campaigns that matter.”

Outdoor Alliance’s 2025 Annual Report reflects a movement under pressure, choosing to grow stronger by converting a love of the outdoors into civic action, local voices into national influence, and short-term wins into a more durable public lands movement. n © 2026 Diversified

THE TRAIL RUNNING ISSUE

The Power of One

The annual Juneteenth Race showcases unity and community in Washington D.C. / By Dominique Smith

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ith the promise of an event that is more than a free trail race and more of a celebration that promotes unity, education and fellowship within the running community, more than 1000 individuals will gather at Fort Stanton Park in Washington D.C. on June 13 to embark on a fantastic voyage through American history in the form of running and walking. The lesson will be taught in the form of a race — more specifically, the Juneteenth 10K and HalfMarathon — and it celebrates the history behind the holiday, which dates back to Union Major General Gordon Granger’s General Order No. 3 in 1865 that freed the enslaved people in Texas.

The event is put on by the Juneteenth Marathon Organization, a non-profit that was founded in 2020. Every detail as it pertains to the race day experience is intentional.

The race will start at approximately 6:19, which is the official date of the Juneteenth Holiday. The off-road trail that makes up the course runs along the Civil War Defenses Washington Trail and connects the five Civil War sites east of the Anacostia River.

The history of the race The race and the organization were founded by Fred Irby, who put together the event after spring races were canceled in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

He reached out to the DRC run club in Washington D.C. and other friends in the area to gather T-shirts, food, drinks and everything else needed to put on the best race possible.

The inaugural race took place on June 13, 2020 and was originally a half marathon and a full marathon that ran through all four quadrants of Washington D.C. 32

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Runners will celebrate Juneteenth by enjoying the trails around Washington. Photo: Jermaine Lowery

per L’Enfant’s 1791 plan for the City of Washington. After the inaugural race, Irby decided to adjust the format and the distance for logistical reasons. This led to the race having the half-marathon and 10K option, which has led to a higher volume of runners who participate each year.

“The first year we had 20-25 runners that were actually doing the half marathon and the full marathon,” Irby recalls. “And then the next year we had 170 people. And then each year it’s just gone up and up.”

The community impact The details that go into making the race successful each year couldn’t be done without the help of the D.C. running community.

Irby says that the race features every run

club in the D.C. area and it has also showcased local businesses in the D.C. area who have been instrumental in offering services to those who take part in the event.

The race has partnered with stores such as R.E.I and Athletic Recovery Lab to provide recovery services. They’ve also partnered with Howard University’s Department of Physical Therapy, which sends a dozen students to help stretch out runners post-race.

“We want to just be a venue to try to help the running community and local businesses that support and provide services for the running community and just create an overall amazing experience that people want to come back to next year to celebrate Juneteenth with us,” Irby adds.

Two of the biggest supporters and partners

© 2026 Diversified

The annual Juneteenth Race brings together runners, run clubs, retailers and sponsors and the 2026 event reached capacity three months ahead of the race.

Photos: Lowery Consulting Services

of the race and the Juneteenth Marathon Organization are Altra Running and Pacers Running Store, both whom Irby labels invaluable to the experience.

Altra Running has provided

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a steady stream of support to the Juneteenth Marathon Organization, as well as the annual race. Irby credits the brand with helping with logistical matters such as race timing,

food and the overall operating costs for the Juneteenth Organization.

Pacers Running has partnered with the Juneteenth Organizations since 2022. Irby credits the store for connecting the organization with other sponsors throughout the years.

The store provides volunteer T-shirts and a sponsored water stop, as well as volunteers for a “Plogging the Trail” event to get the course prepared for race day.

Earlier this year, Pacers cohosted a Juneteenth registration kick-off party with nearly 200 r unners to bring everyone together early in the season and to generate excitement ahead of the upcoming race.

Elyse Braner, director of people + culture at Pacers Running, says that the partnership with the Juneteenth Organization as well as its support for the annual race aligns with the store’s commitment to support community

Freddy Irby, founder of the Juneteenth Marathon Organization.

Photo: Lowery Consulting Services

partnerships.

“Race day is an opportunity for the community to disconnect from their busy city lives, and spend time in nature,” Braner says. “The event is a highlight of the year for the Pacers Community Team, as the partnership supports internal staff engagement for our community event.”

The race-capacity has grown over the years, so has registration. This year, the race reached capacity in March, three months ahead of the race. The long hours and prep for the big race each year is worth it to the Juneteenth crew, and they’re grateful for the support.

“We’re blessed,” Irby says.

“A lot of people connect and like our race and we couldn’t be more excited to do it each year.” n © 2026 Diversified

THE TRAIL RUNNING ISSUE

Pregnant Pause Grayson Murphy’s partnership with Salomon goes beyond competition and supports her new journey.

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rayson Murphy has built her career across mountain racing, trail competition and the road, proving again and again that range can be its own kind of dominance.

Now, with a new multi-year deal to join Salomon’s International Team, Murphy enters a partnership that reflects not only her results, but the full shape of her life and career.

Murphy is a four-time USATF Mountain Ultra Trail (MUT) champion, winning national titles in 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2024.

In 2023, she claimed the WMRA Classic Mountain Championship and earned two medals at the World Championships. In addition, she owns a 1:10 half-marathon, a mark that meets the Olympic Trials qualifying standard and sets her apart as an athlete with rare speed and endurance.

That versatility is a major reason Salomon sees Murphy as such an important addition.

“Grayson will be a real asset representing Salomon on both the roads and the trails in the coming years. We are really happy to have this unique profile, renowned both nationally and internationally, joining Salomon,” says Victor Moreau, Salomon athlete manager. “Though, before winning any big races, Grayson is waiting for the arrival of her first child in May, and it is super important for us at Salomon to commit to supporting her in this journey first, before helping her the best we can on her path back to high level performance.”

Murphy plans to ease back into structured training in the latter half of the year after giving birth. She plans to make her first attempt at an Olympic Trials qualifying marathon during this cycle, before shifting her primary competitive focus back to the trails in 2027.

“Salomon has such a legendary history in trail running and is continuing to make big waves on the road side, too,” adds Murphy.

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With Salomon’s support Grayson Murphy plans to ease back into training later this year after giving birth.

“Their gear across both disciplines is worldclass and they’ve built a reputation for backing athletes at the very highest and most elite levels. Joining their team of accomplished athletes is an honor.

“But how they’re supporting me in this next chapter of my career and life is what excites me the most. It is not just as a professional runner, but as a soon-to-be mom too. That kind of belief in the whole athlete

and in my future goals and dreams means a lot, and I’m really proud to represent a brand that sees and supports all of that.

Can’t wait to run really fast with Salomon the next few years!”

With her extensive experience, championship mindset and long-term vision, Murphy’s and Salomon’s partnership signals an exciting new chapter as they look toward the future of mountain and trail running. n

© 2026 Diversified

THE TRAIL RUNNING ISSUE

Getting Better Together ATRA scholarship program helps trail community come together at annual Conference.

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ith the goal of providing eight new or aspiring race directors with the chance to attend one of the sport’s key professional gatherings, the American Trail Running Association’s (ATRA) Better Together Scholarship Program returns for the 2026 U.S. Trail Running Conference.

The program, launched in 2024, has quickly become an important pathway for leaders who may not otherwise have the resources to join the event in person.

For 2026, each scholarship recipient can receive up to $1800 in reimbursed costs to cover conference registration, travel and lodging. The 14th annual US Trail Running Conference will take place November 5–7 at the Music City Center in Nashville, TN. The scholarship is designed to strengthen the future of trail running by investing in the people who organize races and shape local trail communities. By helping race directors attend the conference, the program opens access to education, networking and new ideas that can improve events across

ATRA’s scholarship program aims to bring new men and women to its annual Trail Running Conference.

the country.

“We wanted to keep the Better Together Scholarship momentum going for what has become an incredibly valuable program the past two years,” explains Nancy Hobbs, ATRA executive director. “The benefits of attending the Conference go way beyond networking and educational content the

event provides and being able to assist some race directors who may not otherwise be able to join in person is incredibly gratifying.”

That broader impact is central to the conference itself, which aims to raise professional standards in trail and ultrarunning event management, build stronger connections between brands, sponsors and events and celebrate the culture of trail running through authentic experience and storytelling.

“We’re thrilled to continue the Better Together Scholarship for 2026 and to partner with ATRA on a program that has already had such a meaningful impact,” adds Carrie Meng, director of the U.S. Trail Running Conference. “Creating space for new and aspiring race directors to learn, connect and contribute strengthens the entire trail running community. We’re looking forward to welcoming this year’s recipients to Nashville and seeing the ideas and energy they bring.” n For more information: https://trailrunner. com/trail-news/category/better-together/

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THE TRAIL RUNNING ISSUE

Riding the Wind Tailwind Nutrition partners with The Conservation Alliance to protect the outdoors.

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n a prime – and tasty – example of a running brand putting its money where its feet are, nutrition product maker Tailwind Nutrition recently partnered with The Conservation Alliance to support its mission of protecting North America’s wild places. Tailwind Nutrition will donate 10 percent of sales of its new Mango Yuzu Endurance Fuel to The Conservation Alliance.

Tailwind Nutrition has historically provided philanthropic donations to organizations that support access to the outdoors, including the American Hiking Society, Durango Devo, Durango Trails, and Silver Stallion Bicycle & Coffee Works.

As a member of The Conservation Alliance’s Business Advocacy Network,

Tailwind Nutrition recently gave five percent of net sales during Earth Week 2026 to the organization. With the launch of Mango Yuzu Endurance Fuel, Tailwind will be extending its giveback program beyond Earth Week to further the goals of The Conservation Alliance.

“When we think about why Tailwind Nutrition exists, the answer always starts in the same place: the outdoors,” explains Jenny Vierling, co-founder of Tailwind Nutrition. “Every product Tailwind produces is intended for people who feel most alive outside, whether on a trail, a gravel road or a mountain top. We are proud to support the work of The Conservation Alliance to protect wild places across North America, and preserve access for

“Partnerships like this with Tailwind Nutrition show how businesses can play a meaningful role in protecting the places we all depend on.The Conservation Alliance brings companies together to support on-the-ground conservation and advocate for policies that protect our lands and waters. Since 1989, that work has helped protect more than 125 million acres and nearly 5000 river miles.”

— Paul Hendicks, executive director, The Conservation Alliance.

all recreational users.”

The Conservation Alliance is involved fighting against proposals to sell off public lands and new threats that face communities across the country. Partnering with brands like Tailwind Nutrition that share a value of preserving nature is critical for the Alliance’s movement.

“Partnerships like this with Tailwind Nutrition show how businesses can play a meaningful role in protecting the places we all depend on,” explains Paul Hendicks, executive director of The Conservation Alliance. “The Conservation Alliance brings companies together to support onthe-ground conservation and advocate for policies that protect our lands and waters.

“Since 1989, that work has helped protect more than 125 million acres and nearly 5000 river miles,” he adds. “Collaborations like the Mango Yuzu release help turn everyday choices into real and lasting impact.” n 36

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© 2026 Diversified

THE TRAIL RUNNING ISSUE

Doubling Down on Trails Ambitious East Coast Greenway project wants to deepen its role in daily life.

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n any given day, the East Coast G re enway ca r r ies p e ople through city neighborhoods, small towns, waterfronts and quiet stretches of trail from Maine to Florida. Some are commuting by bike.

Others are out for a morning walk, a weekend run or a family ride.

Together, they add up to an estimated 50 million trips a year on what the East Coast Greenway Alliance calls the most visited park in America.

Now the nonprofit behind the 30 0 0 -m ile route wants to double that number.

In its new strategic plan, the East Coast Greenway Alliance has set what it describes as a bold goal: reaching 100 million annual bike rides, runs and walks by 2030.

The aim is to grow traffic on the trail and deepen the Greenway’s role in daily life across 15 states and 450 communities.

That ambition comes at a time of real pressure. The organization says the plan was shaped by changes in the economy, politics and culture, including reduced federal infrastructure investment and broader uncertainty.

Over the past year, the Alliance gathered input from more than 400 m e mb e r s, p a r t n e r s, 37

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donors, volunteers and staff to chart its next move.

The result is a strategy built around three core goals: develop the Greenway, promote the Greenway and transform the region.

At the heart of that effort is a belief that the trail can do more than connect miles on a map. It can connect people to place, to

each other and to healthier ways of moving through the world.

In a letter introducing the plan, executive director Dennis Markatos-Soriano and chair Regina Yan wrote, “We are excited to see how this increase transforms the sense of connection with community and nature from Downeast Maine to the Florida Keys. It will take both super-users biking and walking even more per week and for us to inspire many new people to join us on the Greenway through a mix of programming and marketing of the hundreds of existing segments ready for their enjoyment.”

The Alliance is also trying t o m a ke t he G r e enway easier to use and easier to understand.

Earlier this year, it launched a redesigned website, with updated maps, trip-planning tools, regional hubs and a new section focused on completing the route. The new site is meant to serve both explorers and advocates, reflecting a strategy that pairs on-theground development with stronger public engagement.

For the East Coast Greenway Alliance, the path ahead is about making running, walking and biking a bigger pa r t of ever yday American life. If the plan succeeds, the Greenway will not only carry more people by 2030. It will carry more communities with it. n

© 2026 Diversified

THE TRAIL ISSUE

Laying the ‘Groundwork’ Arc’teryx launches program to connect city runners to the mountains.

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t’s time to get out of the city and onto the trails. At least that’s what Arc’teryx Equipment is saying as it launches the novel Groundwork initiative, acity-to-trail running program.

Designed to introduce metropolitan runners to nearby trails through structured training and local leadership programming, the eight-week progressive training series will launch simultaneously across four major North American hubs: New York City, Los Angeles, Portland (Oregon), and Montréal. Registration opens globally for 600 participants total (150 per city) on June 3, 2026, with a program entry fee of $115.

To represent Arc’teryx’s ongoing investment in trail footwear, all registered participants will be equipped with the Norvan LD 4, a long-distance shoe for confidence on training and adventure runs.

Groundwork represents a strategic extension of the brand’s commitment to community. Pairing expert-backed training structures with local running leadership, the program is built to empower city-based athletes with the technical skills, trail safety knowledge and terrain confidence required to transition safely from city pavement to mountain singletrack.

“Groundwork is built on the belief that we shouldn’t just inspire runners — we must educate them to move responsibly in the mountains,” explains Molly O’Connor, Arc’teryx’s Groundwork campaign manager. “As trail running experiences an unprecedented cultural explosion, citybased communities are searching for nearby wild spaces but often lack the confidence to navigate technical backcountry safely.

“Groundwork changes that by providing 38

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an accessible, highly structured blueprint that safely scales an athlete’s physical capability and terrain awareness.”

Across all four cities, participants will follow a comprehensive, multi-phase training protocol spanning baseline foundation, strength development and peak endurance, delivered digitally via TrainingPeaks and supported by weekly educational coaching directives.

Each city also has a Strava Club where participants share routes, track progress and stay connected throughout the program, along with optional weekly community runs hosted by City Run Leads and local partners that align with the weekly training progression.

Each regional program will feature worldclass energy and community integration,

and is custom-tailored to its local surrounding wilderness: • Los Angeles: Led by Hilary Yang (in photo), with participants ultimately taking on the technical tracks of the Angeles National Forest. Weekly community runs will be hosted in partnership with Tommy’s Gift Shop as a local clubhouse.

• Portland: Led by Mack Robertson, guiding participants toward the steep, lush trails of the Tillamook State Forest, with weekly runs hosted out of the brand’s 23rd Street community hub.

• Montréal: L ed by Ni k Golymbiowsky, preparing participants for the wet, rocky terrain of Mont-Tremblant in collaboration with local community partners Espace and RECESS. • New York City: Led by Ashley Macha, with participants exploring city trails while building toward the rocky terrain of the Shawangunk Mountains in partnership with Mohonk Preserve, Snow Peak Brooklyn and A-Frame Cafe.

To ensure pinnacle safety and authenticity, the foundational framework of the program was custom-built by Brenton Reagan, lead guide and director of marketing for Exum Mountain Guides. The curriculum features optional weekly community run meetups led by the regional leads, kicking off in June and culminating on August 8, 2026, with an immersive trail finale event – The Summit – where participants leave the city behind for a full day of guided trail exploration, stewardship, and celebration.

Runners can explore the regional curriculums, check gear specifications, and join their city’s specific registration pipeline by visiting the live landing page: events. arcteryx.com/groundwork n

© 2026 Diversified

DECEMBER 1-3, 2026 HENRY B. GONZÁLEZ CONVENTION CENTER SAN ANTONIO, TX

THE FLOOR IS YOURS. The running industry is coming to San Antonio.

Will you be there?

Book your booth for the 20th edition of The Running Event.

Contact TRE Sales Manager Glenn Dulberg to get the conversation started. gdulberg@divcom.com / 207-842-5694 Produced by:

2026 RIA SUMMIT

Cultivating Success Retailers and brands came together for a successful 2026 Running Industry Association Summit in Atlanta last month.

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y any measure, Running Industry Association (RIA) executive director Terry Schalow calls the 2026 RIA Summit the organization’s “most successful conference yet.”

Nearly 225 retail attendees representing 87 stores mingled with more than 40 brands over an action-packed four days (May 18-21) in Atlanta — a record number of stores and brands for the annual spring gathering.

While retailers enjoyed an opportunity to discover new products, network with peers and learn from industry experts, brands had a chance to engage with retail partners, showcase their products and strengthen their visibility in the specialty channel. The intimate event allowed industry personnel to build relationships cultivating connection and success in the run specialty marketplace.

Notably, the RIA Summit has also become the venue to celebrate some of the run specialty industry’s most prominent movers and shakers — individuals who have contributed to the growth and liveliness of the run specialty channel. On the event’s opening night, former Brooks CEO and Running Specialty Hall of Fame member Jim Weber welcomed four new members into the distinguished Hall of Fame club: • Nico Mermoud and Jean Luc Diard, the Hoka co-founders who grew the French brand from an outlandish outlier once labeled a “clown shoe” into one of the globe’s most disruptive and influential running brands • John Benedict, a past owner of Michigan-based Playmakers who also founded The Run Collective in addition to

co-founding the Running Industry Diversity Coalition and Good Form Running • Thom Abrams, who spent 36 years at Superfeet shaping the Seattle-based brand, supporting retailers, championing meaningful partnerships and mentoring generations of Superfeet employees From the opening night Hall of Fame induction to the final meeting, Schalow says the RIA Summit embraced the positive energy, collaborative spirit and enterprising mindset that has elevated run specialty across recent decades.

“We couldn’t be more pleased and are already reviewing the feedback to ensure we keep the momentum going in 2027,” Schalow says.

The RIA Summit will return to Atlanta for a third consecutive year next May. n

The Running Specialty Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was inducted during the RIA Summit (left to right): Nico Mermoud, Thom Abrams, John Benedict, Jean-Luc Diard.

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© 2026 Diversified

SCENES FROM THE RIA SUMMIT

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© 2026 Diversified

ONE MORE THING ...

Legend of the Fall You can’t grow – as a runner or a retailer – without an occasional bloody topple into the trailside ferns. / By Tom Griffen

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or years I was a trail runner who’d never fallen. Like, never. I’d mis-stepped plenty of times while bounding over roots and rocks, even sustained many ankle rolls that turned the trail into a precarious tightrope from which I’d nearly plummet headlong. But never had I ever lost my footing in a way that put me flat against the hard ground.

This random data point made me feel elite amongst my running buddies. I’d watched them all eat dirt at some point or another — and as they’d brush themselves off, I’d secretly celebrate. Because their fall was my win. Their limping walk of shame back to the trailhead elevated my skills. My edge. None of my fellow runners could compare to my ability to dance in concert with the uneven single track. My degree of nimbleness was rare, indeed.

Like many competitors, I was always on the lookout for differentiators. Things that proved my acumen for the sport as a whole and uber-specific knacks that validated my natural penchant for performing at the highest level.

Not falling was something I took great pride in. My ego inflated as my stellar balance and uncanny ability kept me upright. This rare stat made me feel bulletproof. Like I was in charge of fate. I thought I was something special. And nobody could have convinced me otherwise.

Then one day everything changed. During a long run on 42

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familiar undulating trails, I was suddenly tumbling though the air, unable to find purchase with anything solid. Flashes of green foliage and wet earth blurred past my field of vision before I hit the deck with a thud, then skidded to

an abrupt stop in a grove of mature ferns. For a moment I just laid there, one eye in the dirt, the other looking up at a family of towering redwoods. “Your life will never be the same,” they seemed to say as they chuckled at my folly. And they were right.

My status as a non-faller was lost in a blink. From that moment on, I could never again claim to have superior abilities. My buddies helped me up and made sure I was okay. I was rattled more than

anything — and besides a layer of sweaty dirt now streaking across my sleeveless top, I had some minor trauma on my kneecaps that were starting to seep red. “Got your first dose of trail love, huh?” someone said.

That fall humbled me. I needed it to remember that I wasn’t special, after all. That my running wasn’t just about me. And it definitely wasn’t about being better equipped or more practiced than the folks I ran with. My fall was a poignant reminder of what was most important — and it wasn’t my trail astuteness. It was our togetherness as runners.

I needed that trail love in order to be a better athlete. I needed it as a reminder to respect the trail, the distance and my privileged opportunity to fly through nature’s grandeur with relative ease. Not everyone has such good fortune.

But most of all, I needed a mouthful of dirt in order to grow as a person. As a comrade. Because there’s no evolving, no innovation, and no true improvement without an occasional setback. Once I got over myself, I grew both in my openness to the unexpected — and also in my willingness to accept unintended outcomes.

That fall was a reminder that what my running had very little to do with me. Which was a life lesson I’ve since applied to far more than just running. My businesses, my relationships, my acceptance of life’s twists and turns. Everything benefited from that painful moment of trail love. n

© 2026 Diversified